Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-03-04
CHAPTER ri.
HOW SHE THREW HERSELF AWAY


1.-The marriage is actively to take place
next Thursday" said Mrs Rcdfcrn,
meaning. of course "actualiy.n Pres
ents for the bride poured in from all her
friends, Joe only excepted. Old Mrs.
Tottenham, Miss Tottcnham, Mr. Totem
ham, the housekeeper, the butler, the
maids, the lodgekccpcr-all gave her
presents, all personal ornaments, or bits
of friDpery wherewith to adorr her
house, Beaufort court, in Gloucester
shire, in process of erection.
Mr.. Beaufort had mansion in London.
he said in picadilly; and he proposed
that after the marriage he should take his
bride to Beaufort house, Piccadilly. and
then make a tour with her in his Yacht
along the Norwegian coast; the fiords,
the glaciers there were worth a visit, he
said; and, as Trip had never yet been
abroad, he vcntured on pleasantly and
said that this Trip should be with him.
$50, my dear Mrs. Redfcrn, you must
expect no letter for month or SO. After
our return we will communicate with
you from Worcestershire"
''Lawk-a- body" said Mrs. Redfern:
don't there be any postal communica-
tons from Norway
81 only say that you must not expect
any, and be agreeably surprised if you
hear. You see, my dear mother-in-law
elect, we shall be in our yacht, and may
not come near a postoflice-if post
offices exist i'll those parts"
~ shall be afraid she'll suffer ship
wreck; I've heard there's a great whirl-
pool in those parts. If you was to carry
my Lena into that whirlpool, and she
were sucked down, and never come mp
again, but all broken and done for, J d
cry my eyes ont"
Mr., Beaufort did not answer. Amy
one who had watched his face at that
moment would have observed change
in it. That he loved Trip was unques-
tionable. He was bewitched by her. He
could not take his eyes off her when in
her society. ana, whenever he could, he
was in her society.
Was it wonderful? Such n charming
lovely Creature as this sweet Trip of
IS is not seen often in n lifetime
She was full of faults; but her very
faults were engaging. One could see She
was vain, and forgive it-she had n right
to be vain; that she was a cOquette and
pass it over-her coquettishness gave a
piquancy to her beauty.
"Who would be his best MANI asked
Mrs. Redfcrn and with a flutter of eX-
element, would the duke condescend to
be present."
No, his grace would not. In fact, the
family was much offended at the engage
ment. They regarded it as a mesal-
lance, they would not countenance it;
that was why Trip had received no calls
from any Of his family-no notes, no
presents, no notice whatever. However,
argued Mr.. Beaufort, when he introduced
her all this miserable prejudice would
melt away, the irresistible charm of her
beauty and manner would win its way,
and she would be received with affection.
Mr.. Beaufort was very anxious to hurry
on the marriage. His time, he explained,
was precious; his yacht was ready, and
ne was DESTROYS of Selling the most
beautiful and suitable weather for his
honeymoon in Norway. So preparations
were very hasty license procured to
obviate the delay of bans, and the land
lord of the Dog and Pheasant was invited
TO act as best man.
During the time that interviewed he
tween the proposal and the marriage Trip
was restless and excited. During the
day the trying on of her bridal dress, the
talk of her mother, the visits of friends,
kept her spirits up; but at night, when
alone, they sank and she had many a
cry in her little room She did not care
for Mr.. Beaufort. Her heart was wholly
untouched, only her ambition was reused
and her vanity innamed. There were two
spirits in her-one that urged her on in
the direction she was taking, the other,
that spoke in words of warning, to hold
her back.
What did she really know of Mr.. Beau
fortf What was his characters She had
not spoken with a single person who had
known him before he came to the Dog